Pre-Med & Pre-Health
Pre-Physician Assistant Program
About the Program
Physician Assistants (PAs) are medical providers who diagnose illness, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications, and often serve as a patient’s principal healthcare professional. With thousands of hours of medical training, PAs are versatile and collaborative. PAs practice in every state and in every medical setting and specialty, improving healthcare access and quality (www.aapa.org).
The path to becoming a medical practitioner begins with a genuine desire and interest in helping other people. The strong foundation built as an undergraduate student at Westminster College includes demonstrating the knowledge, skills and personal growth attributes that contribute to a strong medical school application and future success as a medical professional.
Most often, a student on a pre-PA track will choose a biology major since the curriculum includes most, if not all, required and recommended courses for PA schools. Pre-PA students must be mindful of the core requirements for competitive applications, preparing for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) that is required as part of an application to some programs, gaining appropriate experiences in the field and completing their respective majors.
Students will typically apply to PA programs between their junior and senior years, allowing for a direct transition following graduation, but some wait until after they graduate to apply in order to further their education and gain more relevant experience.
Typical Admission Requirements for Physician Assistant Programs (and GRE Preparation)
The academic and extracurricular experience at Westminster College, ranging from coursework to on- and off-campus service and experiential activities to international study and/or travel, contribute strongly to the appeal of the well-trained and well-rounded individuals who graduate from our school.
Prerequisite courses generally include:
- Biology with labs, two courses
- General/Inorganic Chemistry with labs, two courses
- Organic Chemistry with labs, two courses
- Physics with labs, two courses
- English and/or Writing, two courses
- Psychology, one course
- Sociology, one course
- Biochemistry, one course
- Statistics, one course
Prerequisite course requirements may vary from one professional program to another, so it is the responsibility of the student to be aware of specifics regarding their schools of interest. Good planning and working closely with academic and health professions advisors are essential to maximize chances of success in the highly competitive medical school application environment.
Sample Pre-Physician Assistant Student Schedule
This is a sample schedule for a Biology major preparing to take the GRE between their junior and senior year and matriculating to a PA program following graduation. Please note that an individual student's schedule will vary based on the major selected and the schedule of course offerings. First-Year Program (FYP) courses, Intellectual Perspectives (IP) courses, the Cluster Course (CC), which are Westminster graduation requirements, are indicated in italics.
Principles of Chemistry (CHE 117)
Inquiry (INQ 101; FYP)
Speech or Writing (SPE 111 or WRI 111; FYP)
Westminster 101 (WST 101; FYP)
Calculus I (MTH 150; QR IP)
Speech or Writing (SPE 111 or WRI 111; FYP)
Foreign Language at 201-level (FL IP)
Cell and Molecular Biology (BIO 302)
Organic Chemistry I (CHE 261)
Visual or Performing Arts Elective (VP IP)
Organic Chemistry II (CHE 262)
English Literature Elective (HC IP)
Religion or Philosophy Elective (RP IP)
Foundations of Physics I (PHY 141)
Biochemistry (CHE 381)
Introduction to Psychology (PSY 101; ST IP)
Foundations of Physics II (PHY 142)
Biology Capstone I (BIO 601)
Principles of Sociology (SOC 101)
Biology Capstone II (BIO 602)
Cluster Course Elective (CC)
Cluster Course Elective (CC)
Chemistry Elective (CHE ---)
Elective Course
Elective Course
With the exception of the core requirements and courses strongly recommended ahead of the GRE exam, there is curricular flexibility within any chosen major and among the elective courses that are part of the liberal arts curriculum at Westminster College.
Students planning to study abroad for a semester must also plan accordingly to meet all requirements and timelines. It is also advisable for students to budget time during the spring semester of their junior year to prepare for the GRE exam that will test knowledge in Biology, Organic Chemistry, General Chemistry as well as Reading Comprehension, Perceptual Ability and Quantitative Reasoning.
Extracurricular and Off-Campus Experiences
- Shadowing physicians (DO and MD) and other medical professionals in both office and hospital settings
- Clinical internships
- Volunteer experience with direct patient contact
- Emergency medical technician (EMT)
- Any experience working with children (e.g. day camp, Science camp)
- Any experience working with disabled people or individuals with special needs
Where have Westminster students matriculated recently?
- Duquesne University
Web Resources
- aapa.org – American Academy of Physician Assistants – General information about the physician assistant (PA) profession.
- https://directory.paeaonline.org/ - Link to PA programs in the United States
For More Information
Please contact the Health Professions Advisor, Dr. Joshua Corrette-Bennett.
Joshua C. Corrette-Bennett
